The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-05-07
CAPITAL " Il :"

NnAOo MY 1880
So Hugh would grumble. Then his
mother would say:
Sc The rest of us like beefsteak better
than anything else for breakfast, dear.
And this is Monday morning, SO Jane has
no time for buckwheat cakes"
I'm sure she could find time for that.
She knows 1 like them. She could do
the washing little later, Tn sure"
At school:
81 don't want to play prisoners base.
like to play ball better" And when
playing ball: don't want to be right
field. I want to be pitcher. If I can't
be pitcher won't be anything"
Selfish at home and abroad, in work,
study, or play, Hugh seemed never to
think Of any one but himself as having a
wish or liking. Or, il the thought ever
came to him, it was not accompanied with
any idea of paying respect to such wishes
or likings. The best seat near the even
ing lamp, the best or easiest position in
any pursuit, the largest share OF anything
to be divided - all we're unblushingly
claimed by him.
"Im going to have this DESK" he said
on the morning of the opening of school.
at ike it best, because there's good
light on it."
ST don't see that that is any reason
why you should have it," said Will Sed-
ley. ST like this myself, or any of us
would like it."
81 spoke for it first" eaid Hugh, " and
I'm going to have it."
"I-I-I," laughed another boy "That
seems to be a ell-beloved word with you,
Hugh. We hear it oftener than any other
from you"
dts the most precious sound in the
world to him, said Will. "Spelt with
the biggest possible T. Here, Cap
ital T. you can't have that desk. Some
one else is going to have choice-eome
one with little IL"
It was not pleasant name, was it?
The boys kept it up on him numerically;
and his brothers and sisters got hold of
it., so that its sound became hateful 10
him. 1t set him thinking, too. The at
tention of all the boys being so fully
called to his ugly fault, they we're always
ready to watch for any show of it; and
this led him to consider little what a
thing it was to be given up to the con-
tinual seeking of his own will and pleas
ure.
"Hurrah for skating frolicl" cried
the boys, on being let loose from school
one afternoon.
1.-The very weather for it. Let's get q
good early start"
II was indeed night in which nature
seemed to have happily combined all the
conditions necessary for the enjoyment of
rollicking crowd of boys. A light rain
had fallen on great depth of well-pack-
ed snow, followed by keen frost, which
had left crust as hard and smooth as
ice.
Now, mind, every one be on hand at
seven sharp" said Will Sedley, as all went
home to supper.
Hugh went out into a shed to make a
little repair, which he knew to be neces-
sary. on his skates. The last rays of q
glorious winter sunset streamed in on
him as he took from his pocket bit Of
newspaper in which he had wrapped a
few taeks.
A word among other words printed on
it caught his attention, for the reason
that he had heard it unpleasantly spoken
so often of late 1t was the word self
ish .; and, inyoluntarily, he looked to see
what might be said of it there.
:" The selfish man." it read, sis the
poorest man on earth. All his posses
sions are narrowed down to the one point
of which himself is the center. And oh,
what narrow point it is! He is alone,
for everything else is outside and beyond
and above him.
"There is no limit to the wealth OF an
unselfsh man. He owns everything own
ed by others by virtue of his rejoicing in
everything which brings joy to them"
The words dwelt in Hugh's mind as he
ate his supper, and then set out for his
eve ing's sport.
The moon was rising as the boys met
at the school house, and the earliest
corners stacked their skates and engaged
in a hide-and- seek race around the build
ing until all should have gathered. Then
with laughter and whoops and shouts
which made the echoes ring, with eyes
bright as the diamond-crusted snow,with
every vein tingling in the frosty, invigor-
ating air, the merry crowd took it's way
tar beyond the limits of the town.
Hugh was a little more silent than his
wont. he was trying to decipher out OF
his own mind that idea of being partner
in all created things through rejoicing in
the we'll being of others instead Of his
own. The thought was vague and misty
to him, but be liked it.
''Now, then" as the wide fields were
reached, "eyery boy on runners, and
awayl The best man reaches the hill
first"
Straps we're quickly adjusted and one
after another they darted off.
Hugh was usually one of the first Il
strike out, always with an
sI'lhbe there first. 1 can beat any one
80 Nos,